2025 Reform Alert
⚠️ 2025 Reform — Iure Sanguinis Now Limited to 2 Generations
On 28 March 2025, Italy enacted Decree-Law 36/2025 (converted into Law 70/2025), which significantly limits the automatic transmission of citizenship by descent. For applications filed after the entry into force, iure sanguinis claims are now only recognised if the Italian-born ancestor was a citizen at the time of the child's birth AND the applicant is the child or grandchild (i.e., 1st or 2nd generation descendant) of that ancestor.
Claims based on great-grandparents or earlier generations are no longer automatically recognised. However, pending court proceedings (already filed before 28 March 2025) and administrative applications already in progress are protected under transitional provisions. Contact us immediately if your application is affected.
The Four Pathways
Which citizenship path
is right for you?
Italian citizenship passes automatically through blood — if one of your parents or grandparents was an Italian citizen, you may be entitled to Italian citizenship regardless of where you were born. Until 2025, this applied without generational limit. The 2025 reform now caps automatic recognition at grandchildren (2nd generation).
✅ Who Qualifies (Post-Reform)
- Children of an Italian citizen
- Grandchildren of an Italian citizen (provided ancestor held citizenship when child was born)
- Pending court cases filed before 28 March 2025 (transitional protection)
- Children whose mother was Italian (post-1 Jan 1948 births)
📋 Key Requirements
- Proof of ancestor's citizenship at time of descendant's birth
- Complete unbroken chain of birth certificates
- Proof ancestor never renounced Italian citizenship
- Apostilles on all foreign documents + certified translations
🏛️ Administrative Route (Consulate)
Apply at the Italian consulate in your country of residence. Wait times: 2–7 years depending on consulate. You do not need to move to Italy.
⚡ Judicial Route (Italy)
File a court case in Italy. Dramatically faster — 6–18 months. Requires representation by an Italian lawyer.
A foreign national married to (or in a civil union with) an Italian citizen can apply for Italian citizenship. This path does not require giving up your current nationality. Italy allows dual citizenship.
📋 Residence in Italy
- Legal residence in Italy for at least 2 years after marriage
- Marriage must still be in force
- No criminal convictions in Italy or abroad
- B1 Italian language certificate (CILS/CELI/PLIDA) — mandatory since 2021
🌍 Residence Abroad
- 3 years of marriage while residing abroad
- Apply at the Italian consulate in country of residence
- B1 Italian language certificate required
- Timelines halved if the couple has children
⏱ Timeline: Typically 2–4 years from application. The Interior Ministry has 730 days to decide.
Non-EU nationals who have lawfully resided in Italy for at least 10 years (4 years for EU citizens, 5 years for refugees) may apply for citizenship by naturalisation.
✅ Eligibility Requirements
- 10 years continuous legal residence (non-EU)
- Sufficient income (generally €8,263+/year)
- No criminal record in Italy or abroad
- B1 Italian language certificate
- Valid permesso di soggiorno
📋 Process Overview
- Submit online application via Interior Ministry portal
- Submit certified documents + pay €250 fee
- Prefecture review and police background check
- Decision within 730 days (by law)
- Oath of allegiance ceremony
⏱ Timeline: 2–4 years in practice. Processing varies by prefecture.
The judicial route allows applicants to bypass consulate queues by filing a civil lawsuit before an Italian court for formal recognition of citizenship status.
✅ When to Use the Judicial Route
- Consulate waiting time exceeds 3–5 years
- Case filed before 28 March 2025 (transitional protection)
- Dispute with consulate over eligibility
- Pre-1948 maternal line gender equality cases
⚡ Advantages
- 6–18 months from filing to judgment
- No need to live in Italy — lawyer represents you
- Italian court judgment is directly enforceable
- Can be combined with consulate application
Documents Required
What you'll need
to prepare.
🧬 For Iure Sanguinis
- Birth certificates (entire chain)
- Marriage certificates (entire chain)
- Death certificates of Italian ancestors
- Italian ancestor's citizenship records
- Proof of non-renunciation
- Apostilles on all foreign documents
- Certified Italian translations
💍 For Citizenship by Marriage
- Original marriage certificate with apostille
- Spouse's Italian identity documents
- Applicant's valid passport
- Residence certificate
- Criminal record certificate (apostilled)
- B1 Italian language certificate
- Permesso di soggiorno
🏛️ For Naturalisation
- Valid passport
- All permessi di soggiorno
- Income documentation (last 3 years)
- Criminal record from country of origin
- B1 Italian language certificate
- Certificato di residenza storico
Typical Timelines
How long does
each path take?
IS
Iure Sanguinis — Judicial Route6–18 months from filing
IS
Iure Sanguinis — Consulate Route2–7 years depending on consulate
M
Citizenship by Marriage (Italy)2–4 years. 730-day legal deadline.
N
Naturalisation (10-year residency)2–4 years from application
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Italy allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Italy has allowed dual (or multiple) citizenship since 1992. You do not need to renounce your current nationality to become an Italian citizen.
What does the 2025 reform mean for my iure sanguinis application?
The 2025 reform limits iure sanguinis recognition to children and grandchildren of Italian citizens. If your Italian ancestor is a great-grandparent, automatic recognition is no longer available for new applications. However, pending court cases and consular applications already in progress have transitional protection.
Can a mother transmit Italian citizenship to a child born before 1948?
Not automatically — pre-1948 births through the maternal line require a judicial proceeding in Italy. Courts have regularly recognised these claims under the constitutional equality principle.
Do I need to speak Italian to become a citizen?
For marriage and naturalisation paths, a B1 Italian language certificate is required since 2021. Iure sanguinis requires no language test.
How much does it cost to obtain Italian citizenship?
Official state fees are €250–€300. The main costs are legal assistance, document preparation, apostilles, and certified translations. We provide a full estimate at the initial consultation.